1973 United States vice presidential confirmation

House Minority Leader Gerald Ford was chosen as the 40th Vice President of the United States in 1973.

In 1973, RepublicanVice PresidentSpiro Agnew was forced to resign following a controversy over his personal taxes. Under the terms of the 25th Amendment, a vice presidential vacancy is filled when the president nominates a candidate who is confirmed by both houses of Congress. Republican PresidentRichard Nixon thus had the task of selecting a vice president who could receive the majority support of both houses of Congress, which were controlled by the Democrats.

By a vote of 92 to 3 on November 27, 1973, the Senate approved the nomination of Gerald Ford as the nation's 40th vice president.[3] One week later, on December 6, the House of Representatives gave its approval, 387 to 35.[4]